"The Best Investment We Can Make Is To Help Change People for the Better."

Tessie Setiabudi is a typical foreign-educated Indonesian — positive, modern and open-minded. But what sets her apart is what she’s doing: Teaching and training people to have a strong mentality.

This professional motivational trainer is the founder and director of Training for Excellence, a company that has trained more than 10,000 people at various government institutions and big companies.

How did you become a motivational trainer?

I’ve been a motivator to myself all my life. I’ve faced quite a lot of difficulties in the past and it requires me to unleash my high spirit and energy to get through them. Those problems forced me to motivate myself to move forward, unless I wanted to choose the alternative — to stay in the same circumstances, which was much more painful.

When I was finally able to help myself, I got a calling to help others. Moreover, I have the privilege to influence people and find their fullest potential. I believe that the best investment we can make with our lives is to invest our time and energy to help change people for the better. It’s been 20 years since I started this journey.

Describe your job in one word.

Transformation.

Being a motivational trainer, what are the things that motivate you?

God, all the people around me, my friends, my husband, the books I read and all the difficult situations I’ve been through.

What are the things that you always emphasize in your training sessions?

I always like to clarify the misleading judgment common in modern society that people have to achieve a certain status or make a certain amount of money just to feel OK about themselves. To me, this mind-set is wrong because the emphasis is too much on performance rather than being human.

People are unique and valuable. They are born into this world with purpose and not by coincidence, and we are all capable of doing great things in our own way.

In your opinion, what characteristics do Indonesians most need to change?

Three major things: The get-rich-quick mentality, slow responses and selfishness. In most cases, these are molded from childhood, with both parents working to bring extra money home while the children are left with nannies. Parents tend to give them anything they want to compensate for their lack of time. The kids get used to getting things without working for it. This kind of upbringing breeds those characteristics.

If you could summarize all of your training programs in one sentence, what would it be?

Be the best you can be.

As a motivational trainer you have to be positive at all times. But are there things you’re still not happy with about yourself?

My weight. I’ve gained a bit over the past few years. For things to change, I have to see it as a must, not a should or a could.

Do you have any memorable moments from your career as a motivational trainer?

When I hear how my class participants have changed their lives for the better, like when they reconcile with their spouses or get that promotion. Those moments make all of the effort worth it.

You’ve lived abroad before. How does Jakarta compare?

I sense that if you know the way, things are easier in Jakarta.

Do you mind sharing with us your secrets about staying positive?

I’m still only a human. There were times when I was feeling blue and got so frustrated. I called it the pity party. The secret is not to stay there for long. Then I pray and try to be closer to God. I guess that’s the most effective way to keep a positive attitude and stay enthusiastic, because as human beings, our efforts are limited.

Who is your role model?

It changes from time to time. It varies from authors, speakers or mentors. I seek role models who specialize and excel in their areas of expertise. For example, in health and vitality, Stormie Omartian. In investment, Warren Buffet. In trading, Conrad Lim. In spirituality, Charles Stanley. In overcoming adversity, W. Mitchell.

What advice would you give to someone who has lost all hope in life?

Stop looking at the circumstances and at yourself for solutions. Start searching for God to give you strength, wisdom and understanding of your circumstances and yourself. We only lose hope and feel helpless when we only rely on ourselves, but if we start searching, then we get the strength to carry on and find hope in the midst of hopelessness.

There is a very good book on this subject: ‘Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do!’ by Robert H. Schuller. Every problem has a life span even though it sometimes seems endless. As W. Mitchell said, “It is not what happened to you, it is what you do about it.”

Tessie Setiabudi was talking to Irvan Tisnabudi.

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